Of the plentiful offering of Christmas markets in Berlin, the Rixdorfer Weihnachtsmarkt is perhaps one of the better options. The ambiance is much less commercial and more homey than many of the others, and the fact that it only runs for a weekend means it is extra special.
Unfortunately, this short running time also means that the market is packed with people, as everyone only has three days to visit. During the few hours I was here, from the late afternoon to the early evening, it was nearly impossible to maneuver the crowd. My bet is that arriving closer to the opening time guarantees less people (not to mention, the result is warmer feet).
Still, I did enjoy seeing all the handmade goods at the various booths. Some of them were pretty standard, but others were rather unique. This market also had a large amount of vegan food options, such as cookies, and although the vegan chili was just OK in taste, the fact that something warm and hearty was offered for the animal-free palette made me happy.
I would highly recommend that everyone visit this market at least once, as it really is able to capture the charm and feel of what the village of Rixdorf must have been like years ago. read more